‘Innovations in Technology, Institutional and Extension Approaches towards

Sustainable Agriculture and enhanced Food and Nutrition Security in Africa’

Rwanda

Country Report

May 2018

This project has received funding from

the European Union’s H2020 research

and innovation programme under

Grant Agreement No. 727201

Table of contents

1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 3

2. Project Sites .................................................................................................................................... 4

3. Challenges ....................................................................................................................................... 6

4. Promising SAIs, IIAs, and EASs .................................................................................................... 7

4.1 Sustainable Agricultural Innovations ............................................................................................ 7

4.2 Institutional Innovations and Extension Advisory Services ......................................................... 7

5. Main VC actors/stakeholders, markets for the products ............................................................... 10

6. Policies and Institutional mechanisms .......................................................................................... 11

7. References ..................................................................................................................................... 12

1. Introduction

Rwanda is land locked country in East Africa occupying 26,338 km2 areas with a population

of 10.5 million, making Rwanda the most populated country in the sub-Saharan Africa

(NISR, 2014). The country has a tropical climate and most parts receive a bimodal rainfall in

excess of 1,000 mm per annum. Agriculture is the foundation of the Rwandan economy,

accounting for one-third of GDP and employing nearly 80% of the labour force. However,

agricultural productivity in Rwanda is extremely low. Due to erosion and poor soil fertility

practices, up to half of the country’s land is severely degraded. The use of improved seeds,

pesticides and fertilizers remains limited. Furthermore, agriculture is constrained by shortage

of land, acidic soils, drought and high incidence of pests and diseases. Nearly half of all

agricultural households in Rwanda experience food insecurity. Rwandan farmers practice

crop-livestock farming system to increase food and nutritional security and generate income.

Livestock productivity in Rwanda is constrained by inadequate quantity and quality of forage

production (Mutimura et al., 2015). Nutrient depletion, inadequate management of forage

options and diminishing grazing land are among major factor affecting livestock production,

particularly in the face of climate change.

To achieve sustainable food and nutrition security (FNS) in Africa, integrated innovation

processes in smallholder agriculture are needed that are implementable, sustainable and

contribute to higher productivity and income. The project InnovAfrica will test, integrate, and

disseminate potential sustainable agriculture intensification (SAI) systems (based on

precision farming techniques suitable to smallholders), institutional approaches (e.g. Multi

Actor Platforms (MAPs)) and extension and advisory services in six case study countries of

Africa, including Rwanda, in cooperation with relevant partners in Europe.

InnovAfrica is a collaborative project of 16 institutions from Africa and Europe. The project

is funded by the European Commission. The project started in June 2017 with its kick-off

meeting in Nairobi, Kenya. To share the project objectives and develop project work plan in

consultation with partners and stakeholders Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources

Development Board (former Rwanda Agriculture Board - RAB) organised a programme

planning meeting in Kigali from 22nd to 25th August 2017. The meeting was participated by

project partners (RAB researchers, Biosciences eastern and central Africa- International

Livestock Research Institute Hub, Wageningen Environmental Research, milk cooperative –

IAKIB) and stakeholders including RAB field staff, members of multi-actor platforms (MAPs),

and representatives from farmer’s organisation.

InnovAfrica will be implemented in Nyamagabe and Kirehe districts. During the

meeting, the project sites were identified in the two districts based on agricultural potential and

institutional framework operating in the sites. A summary is given in this case country report.

2. Project Sites

InnovAfrica will be implemented in two districts of Rwanda: Nyamagabe and Kirehe (Figure

2.1). Nyamagabe is in the Southern Province (29°56’ E and 2°47’ S), occupies 1,090 km2 with

population of 333,587 and elevation ranges from 1,500 to 2,500 m asl. Kirehe is in the Eastern

Province (30°45’E and 2°13’ S), occupies 1,225 km2 with population of 229,468 and elevation

of 1,478 m asl. The topography in Kirehe district is flat land surrounded by hills and water

bodies with moderate levels of soil erosion. Nyamagabe receives higher annual rainfall (1,636

mm) than Kirehe (750 mm). However, average temperature in Nyamagabe (16.5°C) is lower

than Kirehe district (21°C).

The vegetation of Nyamagabe is dominated by Eragrostis sp., Hyparrhenia sp., Digitaria sp.

and Brachiaria decumbens while Kirehe district is a savannas woodlands with xerophilous

thickets. Soils in Nyamagabe are clayey and acidic (pH 4.3 to 4.9), and are high in aluminium

level. Soils at Kirehe is of sandy loam texture with lower amounts of soil organic matter with

pH > 5.5 (Mutimura and Everson, 2012).

Mixed crop-livestock system is prevalent in both districts. In Nyamagabe district, main crops

are Irish potatoes, maize, tea and peas and major livestock are pigs, cattle, goats, chickens and

rabbits. Cyanika sector of Nyamagabe, which consists of six cells was selected for the project

implementation. The site is accessible, crop and livestock are well integrated and terracing, due

to it steep slopes, is common. Land consolidation and crop intensification are adopted. Average

farm size is less than 0.5 ha. The traditional, semi-intensive and intensive farming systems are

operating in the site.

In Kirehe main crops are maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, sorghum and beans. Major animal

species are cattle, sheep, goat, pigs, rabbits, fish and poultry. Current farming systems are

monocrop of maize-legumes, intercropping, mixed livestock and agroforestry. Average land

holding 0.7 ha. The two project sites of Kirehe, Nasho and Mpanga sectors have both high

population density with a population of 6,253 and 7,603 respectively, settled in the village.

Majority of the farmers (80%) are smallholders and 20% farmers own medium sized farms.

Figure 2.1: Map of Rwanda with the two selected districts for project sites

3. Challenges

The major challenges to SAI in the selected districts are less fertile soils and heavy rain

negatively affect crop and livestock productivity in Nyamagabe whereas drought stress and

small land holdings are the major constraints to improve crop-livestock production in Kirehe

district. Other challenges include feed shortage for livestock, limited access to agricultural

technologies as well as market availability.

During the Rwandan kick-off meeting, a field trip to Nasho and Mpanga sectors of Kirehe

district was made (Figures 3.1 and 3.2). Here, livestock feed shortage and massive use of crop

residues i.e. maize stover for mulching bananas in both sectors was observed. However, there

is a niche for introducing improved forages, as well as scope for improving quality of crop

residues. Both sectors are greatly in need of forage technology interventions and integration of

crop-livestock farming system to maximize over all agricultural productivity.

Fig. 2: Presentation of group work

was also prepared during the entire meeting.

Figure 3.1: Communal cowshed in Nasho sector

Figure 3.2: Consolidated land under irrigation at

Nasho sector

4. Promising SAIs, IIAs, and EASs

4.1 Sustainable Agricultural Innovations

Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) is involved in the field

implementation of BecA-ILRI Hub led Brachiaria Programme in three districts of Rwanda for

the past three years. The programme has identified five best bet cultivars and developed

agronomic practices for different agro-ecology of Rwanda. Over 640 farmers directly

benefitted from Brachiaria technology and some of them are assessing impacts of Brachiaria

on livestock productivity. The findings of this current programme will be extended to other

parts of the country through InnovAfrica.

In both districts, technological and institutional options to enhance food and nutrition security

in the selected districts have been proposed during the meeting. Integrated crop-livestock was

among the solution to continuing increase feed availability and soil fertility. The integration of

Brachiaria grass options in the farming system was highly supported for increased feed year-

round availability and soil fertility for increased food crop yields. Also, participants mentioned

that Chloris gayana could be one of forage options, especially for large farmers who owner

grazing land. Other innovation technologies in these sites includes irrigation (only for mono-

cropping maize/beans promoted by Howard Buffet project), community centre of innovation

(CCI), communal cowsheds and mechanization.

A participatory platform involving 50 farmers (involving at least half of them women) will be

established in each pilot study sites for pilot testing of Brachiaria grass. The proven

technologies will be disseminated to larger farming community (250 farmers per site) within

each pilot study site and one additional site to each pilot study site with similar agro-ecology.

Regular field visits and farmers field days will be organised, and extension materials (leaflets

and posters in local language) will be produced for a wider dissemination of the technologies.

In addition, innovation demonstration will be performed in strategic places like local

government offices and government agricultural research stations in different parts of the

country. Results will be communicated to scientific communities through publications and

seminar/conference presentations.

4.2 Institutional Innovations and Extension Advisory Services

Multi-Actor Platform (MAP)

MAP is one of the capacity building initiatives that has shown potential to contribute

sustainable agriculture through wider awareness and better integration of different stakeholders

in Africa (Brouwer et al., 2013). Woodhill and van Vugt, (2011) defined MAPs as a process of

interactive learning, empowerment and collaborative governance that enables stakeholders

with interconnected problems and ambitions, but with often‐different interests, to be

collectively innovative and resilient when faced with the emerging risks, crises and

opportunities of a complex and changing environment.

In this case country, InnovAfrica project will test the MAPs as one of the IIAs that is likely to

ensure long-term sustainability of the smallholder farming business in Rwanda. InnovAfrica

project refer to the MAPs members as the expertise based on their experience in specific region.

Moreover, MAPs will be engaged at all the project stages to maximize impacts of the results

such as addressing production and marketing constraints and identifying opportunities to

generate innovative product value chain pathways (WP4), ii) developing policy frameworks

(WP5), and iii) dissemination and upscaling suitable SAI systems (WP6). Furthermore, the

different stakeholders will be involved through a multi-dimensional approach such as

demonstrations, workshops, seminars and farmers’ information days. Involving related

stakeholders will reduce vulnerability, enhance resilience of smallholder farmers and increase

their adaptive capacity while sustaining their environment since they will be directly involved

in the development, validation and selection of the SAI systems.

The MAP members who attended the case country kick-off meeting in Rwanda mentioned that

they will continue to contribute to initiatives of the InnovAfrica project by sharing knowledge

and experience related to SAI, IIAs, and extension and advisory services (EAS). MAPs will

help in validation and up-scaling of project results.

In Nyamagabe district, possible MAP members include representative from World vision,

community saving scheme (SACCO), milk collection centre (MCC), SACCO, BPR (Bank),

cooperatives, churches, etc. Extension and advisory services are provided through farmer field

schools (FFS), RAB, Caritas and African Evangelistic Enterprise (AEE). Various

organizations/groups operating in Kirehe region includes: Dairy farmer cooperative of Nasho,

SACCO, MCC and others, and representative from these organizations are potential members

for multi actor platform (MAP). Extension and advisory services active in the sites are from

RAB, District, Howard Buffet Foundation Nasho II, APENA, Post-harvest and Agribusiness

project (PASP) and Heifer Project International (HPI). Institutions that can influence policy

includes RAB, District, ministry of defence (MINADEF), Banks (Bank of Kigali, Popular

Bank of Rwanda-BPR, SACCO) and organisation involved for technology dissemination and

knowledge sharing are RAB, District, community centre of innovation (CCI), animal health

workers, Girinka Committee, farmer field school (FFS), cooperatives, Radio Izuba, communal

work (Umuganda local language) and parents ‘evening (Umugoroba w’ababyeyi local

language), community group organisation (Amasibo local language).

Extension services

For the innovative EASs, besides the existing extension approaches, the Integrated Farm

Planning (PIP: French acronym) and Farmer Participatory Research (FPR) will be used while

mainstreaming gender in the processes. The PIP approach is a visionary farm plan that is

development by all family members to transform smallholder farmers into more productive

and sustainable farms (Kessler et al., 2016). Therefore, PIP approach is all about changing

farmers’ mind-sets, motivating and empowering them to transform their reality by conscious

collective action. InnovAfrica project will test PIP approach as one of the promising EASs

that is currently successfully being implemented in Burundi.

The MINAGRI’s National Agricultural Extension Strategy document highlights the

commitment of Government of Rwanda (GoR) in developing a pluralistic agricultural

extension system that captures the strengths of top-down approaches, as well as the strengths

of bottom-up approaches (MINAGRI, 2009). The RAB is an apex body for both agriculture

research and extension in Rwanda. RAB partners with local governments, NGOs and private

sectors to provide extension services to farmers. Agricultural extension directly contributes to

national development strategies such as Vision 2020, economic development plan of poverty

reduction phase II (EDPRS II) and strategic plan for agricultural transformation (SPAT III)

phase III that consider agricultural sector as the main source of economic growth of the country.

To achieve the desired impacts, these extension strategies are based on six guiding principles:

(i) be participatory extension (ii) utilise multiple approaches and multiple methods, (iii) be

demand driven and market oriented, (iv) be process and result oriented, (v) involve multiple

actors in delivering extension education, information and services, and (vi) Build on already

existing initiatives.

5. Main VC actors/stakeholders, markets for the products

Most important value chains identified in Kirehe district are dairy (MCC, Milk points), maize

(military camp, market), sorghum, banana, soybean, bean, fish and coffee. In Nyamagabe the

common values chain includes Brachiaria, Chloris gayana, Napier grass, sorghum, beans,

coffee, cassava and forest products.

Relevant end-users and local stakeholder groups:

o Farmer Cooperatives: IAKIB-Cooperative, Milk Collection Centres from three districts (iii)

Women network for agriculture development of Nyamagabe

o Non-Governmental Organizations: (i) Heifer Project International’s Partners in Health Project

(ii) Send a Cow Rwanda (iii) Catholic Relief Service (iv) World vision.

o Government Entities: (i) Ministry of Agriculture- Extensional service (at all level in a district

level) (ii) Ministry of local government (districts, sector- sub-district and cell- sub sector) (iii)

Department of natural resource management at district level.

o Private Sector: Agricultural input dealers including seeds and fertilisers suppliers.

Involvement in the case studies

The members of multi-actor platform that includes representative from IAKIB Cooperative, Rwanda

Farmer organization (IMBARAGA), women group, farmer and Ministry of Agriculture and Animal

Resources will be directly involved in the case studies.

6. Policies and Institutional mechanisms

Livestock and livestock feed are high priority of Rwandan government, and RAB is responsible

for the development and dissemination of livestock and forage technologies in the country. The

EDPRS II defines a large number of programs in the agriculture sector including the

intensification of sustainable production systems in crop cultivation and animal husbandry;

building the technical and organizational capacity of farmers; promoting commodity chains

and agribusiness, and strengthening the institutional framework of the sector at central and

local level (MINECOFIN, 2013). Different policies have been put in place in regard to

agricultural development and environmental protection including One Cow per Poor Family

Programme (GIRINKA), Land Consolidation Policy, Crop Intensification Programme and

Vision 2020 Umurenge Programme (VUP). Most of these agriculture policies are reviewed and

updated under SPAT. While SPAT I and II were based on production, SPAT III (2013-2018)

is more on market and value chains, professionalization of farmers, research market oriented,

access to finance and agriculture mechanisation base. The SPAT III comprises different

programmes where research, technology transfer and professionalization of farmers are

described as programme II of the policy (MINAGRI, 2013). In the past decades, agriculture

technologies transfer was top-down model but with this policy, the research is being done at

farmers’ field so as to foster technology transfer because of farmers’ participation in the

beginning of the technology generation.

Both field sites have land consolidation programs, grow food crops under the scheme and

farmers are adopting communal feedlot to raise livestock. Framers are well supported by the

Rwandan government and other institutions. One site (Nasho sector, Kirehe district) has

substantial investment of Howard G. Buffet Foundation on communal farming using

overhead irrigation. The foundation aims to use its experience and funds to support a

government project to irrigate more than 380 square miles of land held by small farmers.

Under the Big Idea and Rwanda Plan, the Foundation plan to support agricultural

development in Rwanda to become a development standout, characterised by strong

economic growth and good governance.

7. References

Brouwer, J. H., Hiemstra, W., van Vugt, S. M., & Walters, H. (2013). Analysing stakeholder

power dynamics in multi-stakeholder processes: insights of practice from Africa and

Asia. Knowledge Management for Development Journal, 9(3), 11-31.

Kessler, C. A., Duivenbooden, N., Nsabimana, F., & Beek, C. L. (2016). Bringing ISFM to

scale through an integrated farm planning approach: a case study from Burundi.

Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 105(3), 249-261.

MINAGRI (Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources), 2013. Strategic Plan for the

Transformation of Agriculture in Rwanda Phase III. Kigali, Rwanda, 76 p.

MINECOFIN (Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning), 2013. Economic development

and poverty reduction strategy II (2013 – 2018). Kigali, Rwanda, 144 p.

Mutimura, M. and Everson, T.M. 2012. On-farm evaluation of improved Brachiaria grasses

in low rainfall and aluminium toxicity prone areas of Rwanda. International Journal of

Biodiversity and Conservation 4: 137–154.

Mutimura, M., Ebong, C., Rao, I.M. and Nsahlai, I.V., 2015. Nutritional values of available

ruminant feed resources in smallholder dairy farms in Rwanda. Tropical Animal Health

and Production, 47, 1131–1137.

NISR (National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda), 2014. Fourth population and housing

census, Survey report, Kigali, Rwanda, 256 p.

Woodhill, J. and S. van Vugt (2011) Guidebook for MSP Facilitation. Chapter 3, page 41.

Bonn/Cape Town: GIZ/CCPS.